Never as bad as you think

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Becky would like it to be known that the following was planned long before I decided to do my run and that she is regretting her impetuous, some might say insane, decision to participate in

The Playtex Moonwalk 2006

This is the one that, I think, starts at midnight and involves thousands of women in bras (custom designed obviously) walking a marathon around London on 20/21 May 2006. Anyhow, my current total stands at a not meagre £529 so for all those people who haven't quite got round to sponsoring me yet, can I divert your funds towards https://www.bmycharity.com/V2/beckyharris

Ta muchly.

It's raising funds for breast cancer and I think you have to raise £100 before they let you take part.

Becky says "Please don't feel under any pressure to contribute as you've all been so kind already"

Anyhow what's been going on since last time? I've had 'dodgy guts' - I believe that's the correct medical expression - since last Monday forcing me to miss my normal Monday circuits class at work and my Tuesday run (insert run/runs joke here if you can be bothered). Thursday was footy day which went quite well. We lost but played well and fitness was noticeably better.

Before I rant further, celebrity watch this week was slightly better than last. SIR Trevor McDonald in Waitrose and Ray Stubbs in Ye White Hart watching the excellent Arsenal v Real Madrid game. Everyone know who both of those people are? Good.

Friday was the last 1.5m run - all went well although 10 seconds off my best but I've been told that I've been placing far too much importance on time. Probably right but for me it's the best (if not only) method of measuring improvement.

Sporting activity on Saturday was limited to participating in some excellent snooker in the evening (Fat Boys 4, Bannister's Bottlers 0) followed by watching an abject (and that's being kind) Fulham performance.

Sunday, last night, was the first of the 3m runs. I think doing this in 29 minutes puts you on course for a 60 minute 10k. Wasn't looking forward to doing this at all and bizarrely quite nervous. Now sorted out my playlist so know that every song is a good one or at least hand-picked with no Disney-based surprises. Started off with 'Another one bites the dust' which, like a few Queen songs, has a very strong beat. Sadly this one had rap (with a capital C) all over it. Will delete. 'Don't stop me now' and 'Boombastic' are current favourites. Started at a very slow pace and I think remained at a steady pace for most of the run. The music helped enormously and also the fact that I knew where I was and exactly when I was on the 'homeward straight' (going down Barnes High Street with the Red Lion behind me since you ask)

This running training has similarities with 'a nice walk in the country'. As long as you know how long you're going to walk/run for you can prepare yourself accordingly and feel an amazing sense of achievement when you get back and settle down in front of the telly for an hour or two. It's when either of these activities appear without an end that things become less than ideal.

Finished the 3 miles in 31 minutes, which I was very pleased with as a first attempt at that particular distance. Still definitely looking for 29 mins in an ideal world but we'll see how the next 5 or 6 runs progress. Felt fantastic when I finished, knackered but not dead on my feet and very happy. Easily pleased.

This lunchtime I did circuits which was good but very intense but sadly my running plan this week has hit 3 major snags. Tuesday, Friday and Sunday are my normal running nights. This week I am going out drinking on ........... Tuesday (college boys in Russell Square), Friday (old friends in Richmond) and Sunday (pre-match tincture in Putney before Fulham 1 Chelsea 24). Probably run on Wed and Sat instead.


Just a few things I want to finish on:

1 - How do people cope with running past restaurants? Last night, at about the halfway stage, there was a restaurant with its doors open and two men SPIT ROASTING something meat-based (quite possibly an ex-animal of some sort) ON THE PAVEMENT. Unbelievable! How am I supposed to run/plod past?

2 - At what stage can I legitimately buy one of those water carrying belts and take water on my run? They look quite exciting and an excellent money spending opportunity.

3 - Apparently the crowds at these events can knock minutes off your time. The best trick is to put your name on your shirt so that when they start shouting at/for/near you it spurs you on to greater speeds. Allegedly. If I put 'John' on the back of my shirt, how will I know that they're shouting at/for me. Could be someone else? Does it matter? Do I need a more exclusive name? Do I need a life?

That's me done for the week, wish me luck and can I refer those in the 'I'll definitely sponsor you before the big day just haven't got round to it yet' camp to the Becky link at the top of this entry.